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The influence of carbon in solid solution on the stress-strain curves of ?-iron was investigated using model alloys prepared from high purity iron. Uniaxial compression tests were carried out within the ferritic domain at temperatures between 700 and 880 ?C. Oscillating stress-strain curves observed at high temperatures and low strain rates indicate that discontinuous dynamic recrystallization takes place. The macroscopic strain rate sensitivities m and apparent activation energies Q associated with the flow stress are not significantly modified by carbon additions. By contrast, the mesoscopic parameters h and r associated with strain hardening and dynamic recovery, respectively, are strongly dependent on the carbon content. Finally, an estimation of the grain boundary mobilities during dynamic recrystallization was carried out from the above rheological data.